An umbrella term for any software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer, server, client, or computer network. Types include viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware, trojans, and adware.
An umbrella term for any software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer, server, client, or computer network. Types include viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware, trojans, and adware.
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Malware — short for "malicious software" — encompasses all software created with harmful intent. It's the tool that makes most cybercrime possible, from stealing data and holding files for ransom to building botnets and mining cryptocurrency on victims' devices.
Malware can arrive through email attachments, malicious downloads, infected USB drives, compromised websites, or exploited software vulnerabilities. Once installed, it can operate invisibly, evading detection while stealing data or waiting for commands from its operator.
The malware ecosystem has become highly specialized. Some criminals focus on creating malware, others on distribution, and others on monetizing the access gained. Dark web marketplaces sell ready-made malware kits that require no technical expertise to deploy.
The Emotet malware, described by Europol as "the world's most dangerous malware," started as a banking trojan in 2014 and evolved into a massive botnet that delivered other malware payloads. At its peak, it infected over 1.6 million machines worldwide before being taken down in 2021.